First Time Driver, Manual Or Automatic?

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by rosephus

you will be surpised how quickly your ability builds up towards the end of your lessons.

i was shocked when my instructor said i was ready for my test, even more shocked when i passed 1st time. i couldnt beleive they were letting me drive on my own!! i didnt feel ready at all but i was.

Yes I felt the same, I only had 5 lessons and the instructor said I was ready.
I passed first time, my freedom then began...

[Pistonbroke666]

I catch the train to work Mon-Fri so driving is and will most likely remain for me, a bit of fun at the weekend.

As a result, I want to feel the car and take it all the way through the power bands. The best way to do that is with a manual.

If the bulk of your driving will be in slow moving traffic, I could understand the appeal of an auto.

What I will say though is you might want to make your first car, post test, a manual so that you can build on your new found skills. Really get to grips with a manual before switching to an auto so that if you're ever behind the wheel of one again, you won't be so out of touch.

[Duotone]

Originally Posted by thundercat

There was a time that if you took your driving test in an automatic you could not drive a manual, but if you took your test in a manual you could drive an automatic, has this now changed.

If you pass your test in a car with a manual gearbox then you will be issued with a Full Licence, this will entitle you drive a car with either a manual or a automatic gearbox.

If you pass your test in a car with a automatic gearbox then you will be issued with a Automatic Licence and you will only be able to drive cars fitted with Automatic gearboxes.

If you have a Automatic Licence and the police stop you and you are driving a manual car then you can be prosecuted for driving without a licence.

Dave T

[Sebastienclement]

I have always had manuals (And thankfully never had to do a clutch on the 3 75 manuals I've had!) but my latest 75 is an automatic and I love it. For wafting round town (I live in Aylesbury so rush hour traffic is HORRIBLE) it's great and for nice quick runs on the main A roads it's great too.

I don't think the CDT engine and auto combination is any good for trying to feel like you're 'pushing on'... I mean you can make very good progress but in a refined, relaxed way. If you want to feel that you're 'driving' on some of the great roads around here, I think a V6 manual would be what you want - and probably a ZT over a 75!

[pm77]

Originally Posted by Duotone

If you pass your test in a car with a manual gearbox then you will be issued with a Full Licence, this will entitle you drive a car with either a manual or a automatic gearbox.

If you pass your test in a car with a automatic gearbox then you will be issued with a Automatic Licence and you will only be able to drive cars fitted with Automatic gearboxes.

If you have a Automatic Licence and the police stop you and you are driving a manual car then you can be prosecuted for driving without a licence.

Dave T

True, pass in a manual, then YOU can decide what to drive. You have the rest of your driving days to decide what to do then

[Forestgreen]

Best advice I think is learn in a manual then decide. I agree generally it's better to have a manual for the first few years. I had a manual for 15 years before getting my 75 three years ago. A few weeks ago I had to hire a (manual) van for the day and I just about burnt the clutch out, the stress of driving it and faffing around with a clutch pedal and handbrake starts etc! So yes you do forget over time, more so if you are new to driving. Maybe the manual diesel isn't the one for you if a novice driver as the clutch repairs when they do go do seem to cost a small fortune.

On the other hand the automatic is rather lovely. As it wafts you hopefully won't feel tempted to push it too much, at least with a manual you have engine breaking as well as foot pedal braking. Just beware if you ever have to rent a car that's not an automatic.

[Juego]

I'm not a big fan of automatics but with both my knees starting to wear, my left one worse than my right I'm slowly being forced into having to drive automatics. I do enjoy driving my dads 730D but I prefer to be fully in control.

[klarzy]

Originally Posted by Forestgreen

Best advice I think is learn in a manual then decide. I agree generally it's better to have a manual for the first few years. I had a manual for 15 years before getting my 75 three years ago. A few weeks ago I had to hire a (manual) van for the day and I just about burnt the clutch out, the stress of driving it and faffing around with a clutch pedal and handbrake starts etc! So yes you do forget over time, more so if you are new to driving. Maybe the manual diesel isn't the one for you if a novice driver as the clutch repairs when they do go do seem to cost a small fortune.

On the other hand the automatic is rather lovely. As it wafts you hopefully won't feel tempted to push it too much, at least with a manual you have engine breaking as well as foot pedal braking. Just beware if you ever have to rent a car that's not an automatic.

I agree with the above.... drive a manual, have to go through city traffic humping the clutch up and down a couple of hundred times a day, then drive an auto, and realise what a terrible mistake you make buying a clutch muncher...